Food festival ushers in Battle of Mactan anniv

The 492nd anniversary of the Battle of Mactan is ushered in by a week-long food festival featuring menus of Lapu-Lapu City’s posh hotels and resorts.

Staged in the Liberty Shrine, diners are feted with restaurant dishes at affordable prices in open air stalls.

The annual food festival opened Friday last week as part of the celebration of the re-enactment of the Battle of Mactan that saw Datu Lapu-Lapu repelling Spanish conquistadors at the cost of the life of Ferdinand Magellan on April 27, 1521.

Aside from the gustatory delights, diners are entertained by a variety of shows that include live band performances, dance and singing contests, fashion shows and exhibits.,

Traffic will be heavy around the shrine, site of a life-size statute of Lapu-Lapu and a shallow coastline of mangroves where the Battle of Mactan will be reenacted.

“We will commemorate Datu Lapu-Lapu’s heroic deed of defending our shores against Spanish conquistadors led by Ferdinand Magellan,” said Lapu-Lapu Mayor Paz Radaza.

On Saturday, Polo Ravales will play the role of Datu Lapu-Lapu; Yam Concepcion as Rayna Bulakna and Troy Montero as Magellan.

Traffic in Mactan’s main road is expected to be congested starting Friday morning when the Manuel L. Quezon Road between the first and second Mandaue-Mactan bridges will have half of the lane closed to vehicles and the other open to two-way traffic.

The Maribago road to the Liberty Shrine will be also closed to vehicles on Saturday. (See rerouting map on page 9)

The mayor who just won her advocacy to take a baby diaper commercial that spoofs the Battle of Mactan off the air, said the re-enactment is part of their advocacy to faithfully promote history and preserve its cultural and heritage value.

She thanked the media and bloggers who publicized their protest against the EQ diapers commercial. The Advertising Board of the Philippines ordered the commercial taken off the air.

“Thank you also for helping us make the people remember our glorious past, your news stories, commentaries and blogs have ignited the pride within our people so that many have come forward to defend the values our past have taught us.” Radaza said./Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza